Celebrating 60 Years of APB: A Legacy of Impactful Voices

03 Sep 2025

For six decades, American Program Bureau (APB) has proudly stood as one of the world’s most trusted speaking agencies. Founded on the belief that ideas can inspire action, APB has brought the voices of world leaders, groundbreaking innovators, cultural icons, and passionate advocates to audiences across the globe. Our history is a testament to the caliber of people we’ve worked with—individuals who don’t just speak, but shape history.

Legends of Sports and Inspiration

From the boxing ring to the basketball court, APB has worked with athletic giants whose influence transcends sports. Muhammad Ali inspired the world with his courage and conviction, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became a voice for social justice alongside his athletic dominance. Arthur Ashe, Wilma Rudolph, Bill Russell, and Magic Johnson showed us the power of resilience and excellence. We’ve also done speaking engagements with Mike Tyson, Tom Brady, George Foreman, and Billy Jean King, athletes who brought both competitive fire and inspirational lessons to audiences everywhere.

Political Leaders and Global Statesmen

APB has had the pleasure to work with presidents, prime ministers, and Nobel Prize laureates. We are honored to have worked with President Jimmy Carter, President Ronald Reagan, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President Mary Robinson, President Oscar Arias, President Mikhail Gorbachev, President François Mitterrand, and President Lech Walesa. We’ve also partnered with leaders such as Prime Minister Sir Richard Branson, Lord Terence O’Neill, Sir Harold Wilson, Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and global changemakers like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dr. Gro Brundtland.

Icons of Civil Rights and Social Change

Few agencies can claim the honor of having worked with individuals who so profoundly shaped the fight for justice, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Julian Bond, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Cornel West, Nikki Giovanni, Naomi Tutu, Alice Walker, Ilyasah Shabazz, David Hogg, and Herman Boone. These are voices that challenged injustice and empowered generations to carry forward their causes.

Cultural Pioneers and Entertainers

From Hollywood to Broadway, APB has linked with stars whose work resonates far beyond the stage and screen. We have done events with Tom Arnold, Sean Astin, Jim Belushi, Ed Asner, Fran Drescher, Debra Messing, Marlo Thomas, Jane Seymour, Goldie Hawn, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Nora McInerny, Gilda Radner, and Ed McMahon. We’ve also worked with cultural icons such as Al Pacino, Jay Leno, Mira Sorvino, Andy Warhol, Peter Yarrow, Peter Max, and Steve Pemberton, whose creative contributions have left a lasting mark.

Giants of Journalism and Storytelling

APB has always valued truth-tellers, journalists, and commentators who help society see itself clearly. We’ve had the privilege of working with Jack Anderson, Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward, Seymour Hersh, Nicholas Kristof, Dan Rather, David Frost, Peter Jennings, Ken Jennings, John King, Helen Thomas, John Dean, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, David Eisenhower, Juju Chang, John Quinones, David Pogue, and Maria Hinojosa. These individuals embody the essential role of media in democracy and culture.

Visionaries of Ideas, Science, and Innovation

The APB legacy extends deeply into science, education, and forward-thinking ideas. We are proud to have worked with the likes of Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Carl Sagan, Michio Kaku, Temple Grandin, Vaclav Smil, Steve Wozniak, Daymond John, Kevin O’Leary, Dr. Ian Wilmet, Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr., Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Jaime Escalante, Jonathan Kozol, Geoffrey Canada, Euel Gibbons, and Adam Clayton Powell. Their voices continue to inspire innovation, curiosity, and change.

Artists, Authors, and Cultural Voices

Art and literature are cornerstones of APB’s history. We have done speaking engagements with Pearl S. Buck, William F. Buckley Jr., Phil Donahue, Michael Douglas, Hugh Downs, Jane Fonda, Steve Forbes, Samantha Harris, Sonia Manzano, Stan Lee, Ralph Nader, Ron Suskind, Julian Delvin, Tran Van Dinh, and Antonio Brico. Through their creative brilliance, they have educated, entertained, and enlightened audiences across generations.

A Tradition of Trust

From Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Steve Wozniak, from Gloria Steinem to Al Pacino, APB’s 60-year history is defined by a caliber of voices unlike any other. Our clients have included world leaders, civil rights pioneers, celebrated entertainers, pioneering scientists, and visionary thinkers—all united by their ability to inspire.

For six decades, organizations, universities, corporations, and communities have trusted APB not only to provide speakers of exceptional caliber but to bring voices that transform perspectives and ignite action.

As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we look back with pride at the extraordinary individuals who have walked with us and look forward with excitement to the future of APB—continuing our mission of connecting the world’s most important voices with the audiences who need them most.